The best part is that they are all free for the download - a great way to add to your system without subtracting from your wallet. Most take less than a minute to download and install and don't adversely affect the system's performance. Like other Windows gadgets, these system monitors are small (from 26KB to around 2MB) and have a highly focused scope. All are available for download at Microsoft's Windows Live Gallery. A few come from Microsoft, but the vast majority were written by third-party developers, and most work with both Windows 7 and Vista. Similar to the Mac's Dashboard Widgets, Windows desktop gadgets are mini-applications that reside on your desktop and can display live data, perform simple functions like search or password generation, or give you a sneak peek inside the inner workings of your PC.Įach new Windows 7 system ships with a handful of gadgets that show dynamic data such as the time, the weather and current news headlines, but there are more than 5,000 gadgets available that run the gamut from the frivolous to the essential. It's been nearly two years since Windows 7 was released, and yet there are still some features that Windows 7 users may not be taking full advantage of - such as desktop gadgets.

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